Frequency modulated transistor oscillator



United States Patent() Hung C. Lin, Levittown, Pa., assignor to Radio Corporation of America, a corporation of Delaware Application May 22, 1953, Serial No. 356,625 9 Claims. (Cl. 332-18) This invention relates generally to frequency modulation systems and particularly relates to semi-conductor oscillators arranged to produce frequency modulated carner-wave energy.

The frequency of an oscillator circuitutilizing a semiconductor device or transistor can be changed very readily by changing the direct current voltage or bias on any one of the electrodes. This aspect of transistors has been shown generally in the United States Patent 2,570,938, issued to Hunter C. Goodrich, Jr., for -Var iable Reactance Transistor Circuit on October 9, 1951, and another United States Patent 2,544,211, issued to L. E. Barton, for Variable Impedance Device, issued on March 6, 1951. It has been found, however, that varying the direct current voltage on any one ofthe electrodes also varies the amplitude of the oscillation. In other words, if a conventional frequency modulation circuit Were utilized, the frequency modulated output of the oscillator circuit would also be accompanied by an undesirable amplitude modulation.

In accordance with the present invention, this undesirable amplitude rnodulation is avoided by modulating two electrodes at the same time. It has been found that by modulating two electrodes in certain proportions, not only is the amplitude kept constant but the frequency 'deviation is linear and increased over that obtained by modulating one electrode alone. Thus, one transistor performs the function of a reactance tube, an oscillator l and a limiter.

`Itis accordingly an object of the present invention to provide, a semi-'conductor oscillator circuit capable of generating a frequency modulated carrierwave of substantially constant amplitude. 'l

. It is a further object of the present invention to providea semi-conductor oscillator circuit capable of producing a linear frequency deviation over a broad range of applied modulating voltage.

It is a still furtherV object of the present invention to provide a semi-conductor oscillator circuit capable of producing linear,- broad band, frequency modulated car- Iier wave energy having substantially constant amplitude.

A frequency modulated oscillator circuit in accordance Vwith the present invention may include a semi-conductor devicesuch as a transistor, having a semi-conductivel body and a base electrode, an emitter electrode and a collector electrode in contact therewith..A The transistor may b e arranged generally in a conventional oscillator Y circuit with the modulating or control voltage or 4signal applied to` thencollector electrode. A predetermined portion of the modulatingvoltage is selected by means ofa voltage divider or other appropriate circuitryto behere- 'inafter described, and applied either to the base electrode or to the emitter electrode to compensate for the 'amplitude modulationpwhich would otherwise also be obtained.

The various aspects of the present invention apply equally well to either the junction type of transistor or the point contactJ type of transistor and accordingly, the folfr r 2,857,573 ce Patented Oct.` 2l, 1958.

lowing discussion is to lbe taken as applying equally well to either type of transistor unless it is specifically pointed out -that only one of the types can Abe utilized in the specific circuit under discussion.

The novel features that are considered characteristic of this invention are set forth with particular-ity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, as well as additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic circuit diagram of a frequency modulated transistor oscillator circuit utilizing a junction transistor in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2- is a schematic circuit diagram of` a junction transistor oscillator circuit illustrating =a further embodiment of the present invention;

' Figure 3 is a schematic circuit diagram of a point contact transistor oscillator circuit arranged in accordance with the present invention for frequency modulation;

` Figure 4 is a schematic circuit diagram of a point contact transistor oscillator circuit arranged for frequency modulation and illustrating a further embodiment of the present invention; and

Figure 5 is a schematic circuit diagram of a point contact transistor oscillator circuit arranged for frequency modulation and illustrating a still further embodiment of the invention.

Referring now to the drawing in which like components have been designated by the same reference numerals throughout the various figures, and particularly to Figure l, an inductor 10 and a capacitor 11 are arranged asa parallel resonant circuit which is tuned to the center frequency or carrier-wave frequency of the energy to be generated and coupled to the collector electrode 12 of a junction .transistor 13. A source of direct-current;oper ating bias may be provided, such as illustrated, by a battery 14 connected between one terminal of the parallel resonant circuit and one terminal ofV an impedance element shown in thisembodiment of the invention as a voltage divider network comprising a pair of resistors 15 and 16. A feedback inductor 17 is connected between the base electrode 18 and a point of xed reference potentials such as ground for the `system'or oscillator circuit, --as indicated, and is inductively coupled to the inductor 10 of the parallel resonant circuit. In order to provide a low impedance oscillator frequency signal path between the low potential ends of the inductors 10 and 17, a bypass capacitor 19 is connected directly therebetween. It is noted that the polarity of the battery 14 is such that the collector and base electrodes are biased 'ina relatively non-conducting direction.` A

AThe proper polarity of bias voltage for the emit-ter electrode 22 is provided by a second source of direct current voltage such as a battery 20 and an isolating resistor 21 which are connected in series between the emitter. elec- .trode V22 and the junction of the voltage divider resistors 15 and 16. Accordingly, the emitter and base electrodes are biased in a relatively conducting direction. It is noted that thetwo batteries are shown as properly poled for y lated R.F. signal output may be taken from the oscillator circuit from 'any suitable point, such as the high frequency end of the tuned circuit --11'through coupling means such as an'output lead 8 and a coupling capacitor 9. Y

The oscillator portion of this circuit operates lin the manner of a conventional junction transistor oscillator, that is, the parallel resonant tuned circuit comprising the inductor 10 and the capacitor 11 determine the operating frequency of the oscillator. Energy is fed back from the inductorV 10 by means of the mutual coupling between it and the feedback inductor 17 to the base electrode 13 of the transistor. This feedback energy is provided in phase and magnitude, through the `coupling shown, to overcome the lossesin'the circuit and thereby sustain continuous oscillation of the circuit.

Modulation o-f this generated energy is produced by varying the modulating voltage which is applied lto the collector electrode 12 from the modulation input terminals 24. The reactive characteristic of the transistor is modied in accordance with this modulating voltage,

and accordingly the frequency of oscillation of the transistor oscillator is modified or modulated-in accordance with the modulating voltage. However, it has been found, as abovementioned, that when the modulating voltage is applied only to the collector electrodev or to any one of the electrodes, there is usually produced an amplitude variation or modulation in addition to the frequency modulation.

In accordance with the vpresent invention, a portion of the modulating voltage, as determined by the relative magnitude of the voltage divider resistors 15 and 16, is applied to the emitter electrode 22 by means of a circuit connection including the external emitter resistance 21 and the additional bias battery 20, which as above mentioned, are connected directly between the emitter electrode 22 and the junction of the voltage divider resistors 15 and 16. It has been found that when a predetermined portion of the modulating voltage which is applied to the collector electrode 12 is thus applied between the emitter and base electrodes as above described, the heretofore encountered undesirable amplitude variation does not occur, and that linear frequency modulation without amplitude variation over a broad range can be produced. The ratio 4of the two resistors 15 and 16 is adjusted until this resultant operation is attained.

A further aspect of the present invention will now be discussed in connection with Figure 2. 'Ihis embodiment utilizes a transistor oscillator which is substantially identical to the` transistor oscillator above-described in connection with Figure l. In this instance, however, the modulating voltage is applied to the' oscillator circuit by means of a modulation transformer 25 rather than the voltage divider resistor network Ias described in connection with Figure l.

The modulation transformer 25 comprises a primary winding 26 connected between the parallel resonant circuit 10-11 and the battery 14, and a secondary winding 27 connected directly between the low voltage end of the feedback inductor 17 and one end of a bias resistor 28. The bias resistor 28 may be bypassed at modulation freminedby the characteristics ofthe modulation transformer 25. The transformation ratio of the modulation transformer and the polarity of the secondary connection is such that, as in the circuit of Figure l, the modulation energy applied between the emitter and base electrodes' of the oscillator circuit from the input terminals 24 is of magnitude and phase to provide linear frequency modulation of the transistor oscillator circuit without amplitude variation.

Modulated signal output energy may be derived from the tuned circuit 10-11 by any suitable coupling means such as a pick-up coil 31 inductively coupled with the tuning inductor 10 as shown. Y v

Referring now to Figure 3 of the drawing, there is illustrated a transistor -oscillator utilizingA a point contact transistor 32 and including a parallel resonant circuit 33 comprising an inductor 34 and a capacitor 35. The parallel resonant circuit 33 determines 'the operating frequency of the transistor oscillator and is connected between the base electrode 36vand the ungrounded end of a bypass capacitor 37.

y Bias voltages for the transistor oscillator are provided Y by a battery 38 which is connected in series with a lirst quencies by a capacitor 29. An additional resistor 30 is l Connected between the negative terminal of the battery 14 and the ungrounded end of the bias resistor'28.

Thetwo resistors 28 and 30, effectively in series, vserve as a voltage divider network for providing the proper bias to be applied between the emitter electrode 22 and the base electrode 18 without the use of lan additional bias battery as was required in Vthe circuit shown in Figure 1.

The operation ofV the transistor oscillator per se is conventional as mentioned in connection with Figure l.

However, in this embodiment of the invention, the percentage of modulating voltage which is selected to be apv plied between the emitter and base electrodes is determodulation' impedance element or resistor 39 to the collector electrode 40 of the pointrcontact transistor 32, and

poled to bias the collector andk base electrodes in a relatively nonconducting direction.l

A modulation transformer 43 including a` primary winding 44 and a secondary winding 45 has its secondary winding connected directly between the positive terminal of the battery 38 and ground. A bias voltage of correct c magnitude and polarity is provided for the emitter electrode` 46 by means of an emitter resistor 47 connected between theemitter electrode 46 and ground. A bypass capacitor 48 which provides Va low impedance path at the oscillator frequency is connected between the collecl tor electrode 40 and ground in order t-o remove the effect of the oscillator energy from the battery 38 and from the modulation source which may be connected to the modulation input terminals 24.

The direct current circuit and the modulation circuit forthe transistor -oscillator are completed by means of a second modulation impedance element or resistor 50`` connected between the positive terminal of the battery 38 and the low signal potential end of the parallel resonant circuit 33.

The oscillator portion of the circuit operates Vin the 'manner of a conventional point contact typecof transistor oscillator. There is no requirement of an external feedback as the feedback which -is necessary toproduce and vsustain oscillation is providedrby the negative resistance characteristic of the transistor itself. f The normal or center frequency of oscillation is determined by the frequency of the parallel resonant circuit 33 which isk connected in the base electrode circuit..4

Frequency modulation of the oscillator circuit isae-v complis'hed by varying the bias potential applied to the collector electrode by means of the modulation transformer 43. The relative proportion of modulating voltage which is applied respectively between the collector and base electrodes and between the emitter and base ,electrodes is determined by proper proportioning of the vmodulation resistors 39 and 50 which arerespectively.

connected in the collector electrode and base electrode circuits.- Upon proper proportioning of these two resistorsthe phase and magnitude of the modulating voltage which is applied between the two above mentioned pairs of electrodes is such that linear broad band frequencymodulationoccurs without having an undesirable ampli,`

ltude modulation characteristic.

It has been found possible, with this embodimentv of theinvention, to' connect a dynamic microphone 49 to the terminals 24 and directly across the primary winding f 44 tol provide a miniature frequency modulated transf.

vfnitterwhich may .be conveniently utilized in combination ,with a radio receiver as a wireless public address system. Modulated'signals are radiated directly, as

. indicated, from the tuned circuit inductor or through The voltagel divider action required to proportion the I amount of the modulating voltage which is to be applied to the tworespective circuits is accomplished in the circuit of Figure 4 by means of a modulation transformer 51 having a tapped secondary winding 52 and a primary winding 53. The modulating Voltage is applied to the modulation input terminals 54 which are connected to the ends of the primary winding 53. A radio-frequency choke coil 55 is connected between the collector electrode 4 0 and the negative terminal of the. bias battery 38, similar to the resistor 39 of Figure 3, to prevent the 'oscillatorenergy from affecting the voltage of the bias battery 38 or the modulation source. In this embodiment of the invention the ratio of the number of turns between the two ends of the secondary winding and the secondary tap 56 are selected such that the proper proportion and phase of the modulating voltage is applied to the collector and base electrodes thereby establishing linear broad band frequency modulation in accordance with the above stated fundamentals and without an undesirable amplitude modulation component. In this circuit, modulated output signals are derived from the tuned circuit 10-11 Iby a pick-up coil 31 as in the embodiment shown in Figure 2.

Referring to Figure 5 and a modification of the circuit of Figure 4, the voltage divider action which is required to proportion theextent of modulating voltage which is applied to the collector and base electrodes is determined by the external resistor 50 in combination with thebase resistance of the transistor 32. The modulating voltage is applied to the modulation input terminals 24 which l are connected across a modulation input impedance illustrated as a resistor 59. The resistor 50, which is connected between the low signal voltage end of the parallel resonant circuit 33 and the positive terminal of the battery 38, is so selected that in combination with the base resistance of the transistor 32, the proper proportion of the modulating voltage is applied to the emitter-base electrode circuit to prevent amplitude variation and to provide constant amplitude frequency modulation in a .broad band of frequencies.

A frequency modulated oscillator circuit in any of the specific embodiments of the invention that have been shown, make it possible to couple with any convenient source of modulation energy to provide constant ampltude, linear frequency modulation. As has been shown and described, undesired amplitude modulation is prevented or minimized by the dual modulation of two transistor electrodes in predetermined proportions from the modulation signal source. Theresultant constant amplitude of the output signal and linear frequency deviation are characteristic of this improved transistor modulated oscillator circuit. In addition, one transistor effectively performs the .function of reactance tube, oscillator and limiter in the improved oscillator circuit of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with asemi-conductor oscillator circuit including a semi-conductor device having a collector electrode, an emitter electrode and a baserelectrode, a voltage divider network connected in circuit with said collector and base electrodes for applying a modulating signal therebetween, and means including a portion of said voltage divider network connected in circuit with said emitter and base electrodes for applying a predetermined portion of said modulating signal in phase with the modulating voltage on the collector electrode between said emitter and `base electrodes ,for providing constant amplitude linear, broad band, frequency modulation .of said oscillator circuit;l i

2. A frequency modulation system comprising, in combination, an oscillator circuit including a semiconductor device provided with a vcollector electrode, an

emitter electrode and a base electrode, means .connected for biasing said collector and base electrodes in a relatively non-conducting polarity and-for biasing said emitter and base electrodes in a relatively conductingpolarity, a parallel resonant circuit connected betweenV said base electrode 'and apoint of Iixed reference potential, a first and second resistor connected `in yseries with .the base resistance of said semi-conductor device, and a modulation input circuit connected across said second resistor for applying a modulating voltage'to said circuit, said rst resistor being so proportioned with respect to said base resistance that said modulating voltage is applied in a predetermined portion and phase relation between the co1- lector and base electrodes and between the emitter and base electrodes for'frequency modulating said semi-conductor oscillator lcircuit without amplitude variation;

3. A frequency modulated oscillator circuit comprising, in combination, a semi-conductor device havingan emittery electrode, a collector electrode and a base electrode, means connected for biasing said collector. and base .electrodes in a relatively `non-conducting polarity and 'for' .biasing said emitter and` base electrodes in a relatively conducting polarity, a. parallel resonant Ycircuit coupled between said. collector and base. electrodes for determining a mean operating yfrequency for said oscillator circuit, an impedance element connected in circuit with said collector and base electrodes, a pair of input terminals connected across said .impedance element ,for impressing a modulating signal thereacross, andmeans connected between. said emitter electrode and an intermediate point on said impedance element for applying 5. A frequency modulated oscillator circuit comprising the combination defined in claim 3, wherein said impedance element comprises a modulation transformer having a tapped secondary winding.

6. A frequency modulated oscillator circuit comprising in combination, a semi-conductor device having an emitter electrode, a collector electrode and a base electrode, means for biasing said collector and base electrodes in a relatively non-conducting polarity and for biasing said emitter and base electrodes in a relatively conducting polarity, a parallel resonant circuit coupled between said collector and base electrodes for determining a mean operating frequency for said oscillator circuit, a modulation transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, means for connectingsaid windings in series and defining a junction therebetween, means for connecting said windings serially in circuit respectively with said collector and base electrodes, la pair of input terminals connected across said primary wmding for impressing a modulating signal thereacross, and meansconnected between said emitter electrode and the junction of said primary and secondary windings for` applying a predetermined portion of said modulating signal between said emitter and base electrodes for providing linear broad band frequency modulation without undesired amplitude modulation.

7. A frequency modulated oscillator circuit compris-` trode, means for vbiasing said collector and base electrodes 'in aielatively non-conducting polarity and for biasing Ysaid'emitter and base electrodes in a relatively conducting polarity,v a parallelresonant circuit -coupled between' said collector and base electrodes forv determining the natural frequency of said oscillatorcircuit, a modulation transformer having a primary windingV and a secondary winding, a iir'st impedance element connected in circuit with said vcollector electrode and one terminal of said-'secondary winding, a second impedance element connected `between theV low signal voltage end of said parallel resonant circuit and said one terminal of said secondary? winding, and a pair of inputterminals connected to lsaid'priniary winding for impressing a modulating signal thereacross, said first impedance elementand said second impedance element being so proportioned as to apply apredetermined portion ofsaid modulating signal between said emitter and base electrodes for providing linear broad band frequency modulationwithout undesirable amplitude modulation.

f 8. The combination comprising a frequency modulated semi-conductor oscillator circuit including a semiconductorv device having a collector electrode, an emitter electrode anda base electrode; means for biasing said collector `andbase electrodes in a relatively non-conducting .polarity and for biasing said emitter and base electrodes in a relatively conducting polarity; circuit means connected vwith said device for establishing a mean oscillator frequency; modulation means connected in circuit with saidcollectorv and base electrodes for applying 'a'modulating signal therebetween to modulate said oscillator circuit with respect to said mean frequency, said modulation means comprising a voltage divider network including a pair of resistors connected in series between saidicollector and base electrodes; and further modulationmeans connected in circuit with said emitter and y-baseelectrodes for applying a predetermined portion of said modulating signal in phase with the modulating sigv 8 nall appliedbetwee'n said collectorA and baseelectrodes between said emitter and Vbase electrodes to neutralize undesired amplitudermodulation in said oscillatorv circuit. 1 t t 9. TheA combination comprising a frequencyrmodulated semi-conductor oscillator circuit. including atsemiconductor device having a collectorelectrode, an emitter electrode and a base electrode; means for biasing said collector and base electrodes yin a relatively Ynon-conducting polarity and for biasing said emitter and base electrodes in a relatively conducting polarity; circuit means connected with said devicepfor establishing a mean os-` cillator frequency; modulation means ,connected in ,circuit with said collector and base Velectrodes for applying a modulating signal therebetween to modulate said oscillator circuit with respect to, saidy mean frequency, said modulation meanscomprising `a modulation transformer including primary and secondary windings, said primary winding beingfconnected between said collector electrode and a point of4 iixedreference potential, said secondary winding being connected between said base electrodek and said point of fixed reference potential; and further modulation means` connected in circuit with said emitter and base electrodes for applying a preded termined portion of said modulating signal in phase with the modulating signal applied between said collector and base electrodes between said emitter and Vbase electrodes to neutralize undesired amplitude modulation in said yoscillator circuit.

- References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,999,176 f Albersheim Apr. 30, 1935 2,281,069 Hofer Apr. 28, 1942 2,310,260 vSchock Feb. 9, 1943 Y 2,541,649v Hepp Feb. 13, 1951 2,629,858 n Koros Feb. 24, 1953 

